Analysis of G3BP1 and VEZT Expression in Gastric Cancer and Their Possible Correlation with Tumor Clinicopathological Factors

G3BP1 Interact with JAK2 mRNA to Promote the Malignant Progression of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma via Activating JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Ras-GTPase-activating protein (GAP)-binding protein 1 (G3BP1) is an RNA-binding protein implicated in various malignancies. However, its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains elusive. This study elucidates the potential regulation mechanisms of G3BP1 and its significance in NPC advancement. Through knockdown and overexpression approaches, we validate G3BP1's oncogenic role by promoting proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, G3BP1 emerges as a key regulator of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, augmenting JAK2 expression via mRNA binding. Notably, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea-derived antioxidant, counteracts G3BP1-mediated pathway activation. Clinical analysis reveals heightened G3BP1, JAK2, and p-STAT3 as powerful prognostic markers, with G3BP1's expression standing as an independent indicator of poorer outcomes for NPC patients. In conclusion, the study unveils the oncogenic prowess of G3BP1, its orchestration of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, and its pivotal role in NPC progression.

Epidemiologic Study of Gastric Cancer in Iran: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers in Iran. Knowledge of the epidemiology of the disease is essential in planning for prevention. So this study aimed to investigate the epidemiological aspects of gastric cancer including prevalence, incidence, mortality, and risk factors of Iran.

METHODS

This systematic review study was based on articles published in both English and Persian languages during the years of 1970-2020 in international databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) and national databases (including SID, Magiran, and IranDoc). Papers related to epidemiological aspects of the disease including mortality, prevalence, incidence, and risk entered the final review.

RESULTS

According to the studies, the minimum and maximum prevalence of gastric cancer in northwestern Iran (Ardabil) is between 0.2 and 100 per 100,000. Also, the death rate per 100,000 people ranged from 10.6 to 15.72 and the ASMR ranged from 4.2 to 32.2%. On the other hand, the incidence of GC was higher in men than in women (74.9 vs 4.6%). The GC risk ratio was 8-times higher in the elderly than in the other age groups (HR=8.0, 2.7-23.5). The incidence of gastric cancer in patients with H. pylori infection was 18-times and that of smokers 2-times higher than other populations. Low level of economic situation and food insecurity increased the odds of GC by 2.42- and 2.57-times, respectively. It should be noted that there was a direct relationship between consumption of processed red meat, dairy products, fruit juice, smoked and salty fish and legumes, strong and hot tea, and consumption of salt and gastric cancer incidence. There was also an inverse relationship between citrus consumption, fresh fruit, garlic, and gastric cancer. In addition, the mRNA genes are the most GC-related genes.

CONCLUSION

Given the high incidence of GC in Iran, changing lifestyle and decreasing consumption of preservatives in food, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, and improving the lifestyle can be effective in reducing the incidence of this disease.

Overexpression of G3BP1 facilitates the progression of colon cancer by activating β‑catenin signaling

Ras-GTPase-activating protein SH3 domain-binding protein 1 (G3BP1) has been reported to be of importance in the occurrence and development of colon cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in G3BP1-mediated colon cancer progression. The expression of G3BP1 in colon tissues and cells was detected via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Gain-of-function assays were performed in colon cancer RKO cells, which have a relatively low expression of G3BP1, while loss-of-function assays were performed in SW620 colon cancer cells, which have a relatively high expression of G3BP1. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and tumorigenesis were assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry and tumor-bearing mice assays, respectively. The results demonstrated that G3BP1 expression was significantly upregulated in colon cancer tissues and cells compared with healthy colon tissues and cells. It was found that high expression of G3BP1 was closely associated with the poor prognosis and advanced clinical process in patients with colon cancer. Overexpression of G3BP1 in RKO cells enhanced their proliferative ability and decreased their apoptosis tendency, while knockdown of G3BP1 inhibited SW620 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. In addition, G3BP1 interacted with β-catenin and upregulated its expression and nuclear accumulation. It was identified that β-catenin knockdown abolished the effects of G3BP1 on the enhancement of cell proliferation in vitro and tumor formation in vivo, as well as the inhibition of cell apoptosis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that G3BP1 promoted the progression of colon cancer by activating β-catenin signaling, which provided novel evidence for the role of G3BP1 in colon cancer.

G3BP1 activates the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway to promote gastric cancer

Background

GTPase-activating protein SH3 domain-binding protein 1 (G3BP1) is involved in various biological functions, including cell growth, metastasis, differentiation, apoptosis, and RNA metabolism. In current study, we aimed to investigate the effect of G3BP1 on gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

The expression of G3BP1 in GC tissues and cell lines was assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Correlations of G3BP1 expression with clinicopathological and prognosis of GC patients were evaluated. The functions of G3BP1 in regulating proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cell were investigated using small interfering RNA (siRNA) strategies. Preliminary exploration of its underlying mechanism using Western blotting.

Results

G3BP1 expression was upregulated in GC tissues compared with adjacent tissues, and the higher G3BP1 expression was correlated with poor prognosis. G3BP1 knockdown decreased GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, silencing of G3BP1 inhibits the activation of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad signaling pathway in GC cells.

Conclusion

G3BP1 plays an important role in the progression of GC as an oncogene and may become a new therapeutic target.

Rasputin a decade on and more promiscuous than ever? A review of G3BPs

Ras-GTPase-activating protein (SH3 domain)-binding proteins (G3BPs, also known as Rasputin) are a family of RNA binding proteins that regulate gene expression in response to environmental stresses by controlling mRNA stability and translation. G3BPs appear to facilitate this activity through their role in stress granules for which they are considered a core component, however, it should be noted that not all stress granules contain G3BPs and this appears to be contextual depending on the environmental stress and the cell type. Although the role of G3BPs in stress granules appears to be one of its major roles, data also strongly suggests that they interact with mRNAs outside of stress granules to regulate gene expression. G3BPs have been implicated in several diseases including cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis as well as virus survival. There is now a body of evidence that suggests targeting of G3BPs could be explored as a form of cancer therapeutic. This review discusses the important discoveries and advancements made in the field of G3BPs biology over the last two decades including their roles in RNA stability, translational control of cellular transcripts, stress granule formation, cancer progression and its interactions with viruses during infection. An emerging theme for G3BPs is their ability to regulate gene expression in response to environmental stimuli, disease progression and virus infection making it an intriguing target for disease therapies.

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Triage of many cellular mRNA occurs via stress granules in a G3BP-dependant manner.

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G3BPs control intra cellular responses to viral infection.

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Transcript stability, degradation and translation are controlled by G3BPs.

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G3BPs can control cancer progression.